Water heater switch
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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115
Printed Date: 13 May 2025 at 7:44am
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Topic: Water heater switch
Posted By: Kenlw
Subject: Water heater switch
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 8:50am
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We did our first dry camping in our recently purchased 180. It took a few attempts but finally got the water workings and it was delightful. My question is do I turn the water heat switch off once propane is ignited?
Thanks for any response. Ken and Andrea (newbies) |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 8:56am
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You have to switches. One for 120v, and one for propane. In either mode, you leave the switch on as long as you want hot water. Many owners heat water once or twice a day, as needed. We don't but others do. The gas side of the water heater is only on, when the switch is on. It doesn't have a pilot light, it has Direct Spark Ignition (DSI) it will light and heat automatically as needed as long as it's turned on. ------------- |
Posted By: harrypodder
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 10:31am
| Like furpod said there are two switches for your water heater. The one on the interior of your 180 is turned on when you want to run it off of propane. The second switch is on the water heater and is accessed from outside and must be turned on when you want to use shore power-120V in either case make sure you have water in the heater before using either method also if you use 120v or propane be sure to put on your checklist when your packing up to turn that switch off. |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 10:38am
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Having water in the water heater tank isn't as critical for propane as it is for electric. Still, it's a good habit to get into. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Kenlw
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 11:51am
| Thanks Furpod! |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 3:13pm
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I'm not one that typically has a electric site, yet if I do, yes it stays on. I don't know if shutting down after use and re-firing for showers/dishwashing takes less propane/electric than leaving it on and staying at temp. It makes sense to me that if in a warm climate consumption would be on par. If in a cold climate.. I'd think turning it off would be better. We're not at the trailer typically during the day. For the most part for us, we turn it on in the am for showers then shut off. Mostly warm water for our needs through out the day (unless in cold climate). How you do it, is up to how you camp. Love to hear how you decide and how it works out for you! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 5:38am
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There are actually 3 switches for the water heater, one on the wall for the propane heating source, one on the tank for the electric, and a third dedicated circuit breaker in the panel for the electric. Since the outside switch is inconvenient, I leave mine on and just use the breaker to turn the electric heating element on and off. If you're worried about switching the wrong breaker on or off accidentally, just mark it with a stick on color dot or piece of colored tape. If you will not be using hot water for a few hours or longer and you're on propane, then by all means shut it off. You will always be ahead in energy use if you don't try to maintain a high water temp when you're not using it. It only takes at most about 30 minutes to heat the tank on propane, it has 12000 BTU per hour capacity. The electric element is only about 5000 btu per hour so takes longer to heat up, so I'd leave that on if you have hookups. Besides, you've already paid in advance for that electricity when you rented the campsite.  ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Kenlw
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 9:05am
| Thank you for your response, Harrypodder!! |
Posted By: Kenlw
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 9:09am
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I assume keeping the fresh water tank filled will satisfy the hot water tank.
Thank you Bum!! [ |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 11:07am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 11:23am
Actually.. No. If the WH is in bypass.. and empty, and you pressurize the system in either manner, just because the water flows freely from the hot tap, does not mean the WH has any water in it. To insure the WH has water in it, pressurize the system, and open the emergency blow valve on the WH. If the WH is in bypass mode, there will be no pressure or flow. If there IS pressure at that valve, then you KNOW the WH has water in it. Many a WH element dies every spring because of this misunderstanding. .
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 1:38pm
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Forgot about the bypass. We live in a zone where we actually have never needed the bypass. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 3:08pm
Yeah, my dad lives just north of Sacramento.. in 50 years he has never winterized..  ------------- |